EGEN-001 in Treating Patients With Persistent or Recurrent Ovarian Epithelial Cancer, Fallopian Tube Cancer, or Primary Peritoneal Cancer

Patient must have at least one "target lesion" to be used to assess response on this protocol as defined by RECIST 1.1; tumors within a previously irradiated field will be designated as "non-target" lesions unless progression is documented or a biopsy is obtained to confirm persistence at least 90 days following completion of radiation therapy

Patients must not be eligible for a higher priority Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) protocol, if one exists; in general, this would refer to any active GOG phase III protocol for the same patient population

Patients who have received one prior regimen must have a GOG performance status of 0, 1, or 2

* Patients who have received two prior regimens must have a GOG performance status of 0 or 1

Recovery from effects of recent surgery, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy:

* Patients should be free of active infection requiring antibiotics (with the exception of uncomplicated urinary tract infection \[UTI\])

* Any hormonal therapy directed at the malignant tumor must be discontinued at least one week prior to registration; continuation of hormone replacement therapy is permitted

* Any other prior therapy directed at the malignant tumor, including chemotherapy, biologic/targeted therapy and immunologic agents, must be discontinued at least three weeks prior to registration

Patients must have had one prior platinum-based chemotherapeutic regimen for management of primary disease containing carboplatin, cisplatin, or another organoplatinum compound; this initial treatment may have included intraperitoneal therapy, consolidation, non-cytotoxic agents or extended therapy administered after surgical or non-surgical assessment

Patients who have received only one prior cytotoxic regimen (platinum-based regimen for management of primary disease), must have a platinum-free interval of less than 12 months, or have progressed during platinum-based therapy, or have persistent disease after a platinum-based therapy

Patients are allowed to receive, but are not required to receive, one additional cytotoxic regimen for management of recurrent or persistent disease according to the following definition:

* Cytotoxic regimens include any agent that targets the genetic and/or mitotic apparatus of dividing cells, resulting in dose-limiting toxicity to the bone marrow and/or gastrointestinal mucosa

* Note: patients on this non-cytotoxic study are allowed to receive additional cytotoxic chemotherapy for management of recurrent or persistent disease, as defined above; however, due to the novel nature of biologic compounds, patients are encouraged to enroll on second-line non-cytotoxic studies prior to receiving additional cytotoxic therapy

Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) greater or equal to 1,500/mcl

Platelet count greater or equal to 100,000/mcl

Creatinine less than or equal to 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) OR calculated creatinine clearance greater than or equal to 50 mL/min; any evidence of renal obstruction must be corrected prior to treatment

Bilirubin less than or equal to 1.5 x ULN

Serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) aspartate aminotransferase (AST) less than or equal to 3 x ULN

Alkaline phosphatase less than or equal to 2.5 x ULN

Neuropathy (sensory or motor) less than or equal to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) grade 1

Patients must have signed an approved informed consent and authorization permitting release of personal health information

Patients must meet pre-entry requirements

Patients of childbearing potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test prior to the study entry and be practicing an effective form of contraception

Patients who have had previous treatment with EGEN-001

Patients with a history of other invasive malignancies, with the exception of non-melanoma skin cancer and other specific malignancies as noted above are excluded if there is any evidence of other malignancy being present within the last three years; patients are also excluded if their previous cancer treatment contraindicates this protocol therapy

Patients who have received prior radiotherapy to any portion of the abdominal cavity or pelvis OTHER THAN for the treatment of ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer within the last three years are excluded; prior radiation for localized cancer of the breast, head and neck, or skin is permitted, provided that it was completed more than three years prior to registration, and the patient remains free of recurrent or metastatic disease

Patients who have received prior chemotherapy for any abdominal or pelvic tumor OTHER THAN for the treatment of ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer within the last three years are excluded; patients may have received prior adjuvant chemotherapy for localized breast cancer, provided that it was completed more than three years prior to registration, and that the patient remains free of recurrent or metastatic disease

Patients with a past history of primary endometrial cancer are excluded unless all of the following conditions are met: stage not greater than I-B; no more than superficial myometrial invasion, without vascular or lymphatic invasion; no poorly differentiated subtypes, including papillary serous, clear cell or other International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) grade 3 lesions

Patients with a serious uncontrolled medical illness or disorder, abdominal surgery (for reasons other than IP port placement) or active infection within four weeks of study entry; patients may have surgery for the purpose of IP port placement greater than or equal to one week(s) before study entry and treatment

Patients with any condition/anomaly that would interfere with the appropriate placement of the IP catheter for study drug administration including: abdominal surgery within 4 weeks of study entry (for reasons other than IP port placement), intestinal dysfunction or suspected extensive adhesions from prior history or finding at laparoscopy

Patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding

What this study is about